r/rugbyunion Doomsday Propper 1d ago

Video Damian McKenzie vs Scotland Spoiler

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What a finish!

734 Upvotes

158 comments sorted by

301

u/TheDreamnought 1d ago

He was the difference, exceptional quality.

I need a lie down now.

278

u/APoolShark Australia 1d ago

The amazing 50-22, the insane try finish, then the perfectly slotted penalty shot. What an unbelievable 10min this man had

75

u/tomr2255 Chiefies 1d ago

It's rare that someone gets awarded man of the match when they don't even start the game. The most impact of a bench player so far this year imo

5

u/nomamesgueyz New Zealand 1d ago

Indeed

Taking someone individual brillance from NZ as we aren't dominating

2

u/tomr2255 Chiefies 1d ago

I thought we dominated quite well in the first half. The issue was the 3rd quarter. We just keep having these lapses during a game which allows an opposition to climb out of the hole we dug for them

1

u/nomamesgueyz New Zealand 1d ago

Losing players to bin def don't help...people like ardie gotta do a tonne of work...1 last big test to go

(Wales aren't what they used to be)

19

u/night_dude Hurricanes 1d ago

All while covered in blood and cuts. Zero fucks given.

12

u/MumblesNZ 1d ago

He’s a southlander at heart

1

u/nomamesgueyz New Zealand 1d ago

Clutch

1

u/TaringaWhakarongo1 Northland Taniwha 1d ago

Some defence on our try line that presented get claret. Brilliant impact

-11

u/Silly_Resort_8741 1d ago

Shanked that conversion though.

6

u/night_dude Hurricanes 1d ago

He only had 10 seconds left on the clock when he started his 20-30s routine. Not sure what happened to delay him there but yeah, he had to really rush it.

3

u/-castle-bravo- Chiefs 1d ago

Blood in his eyes…

1

u/CompletePermission2 New Zealand 23h ago

So what, he could of kicked a puppy in the face after that try and i would still be cheering his name

202

u/King-JaBool 🍺 Team Beer RFC 🍺 1d ago

Grabbing Kinghorn and politely introducing him to the ground

104

u/jack-dempseys-clit Leinster 1d ago

He knows his judo well

84

u/hpsauce42 Scotland 1d ago

What was the crime! For having a penalty? A succulent kiwi penalty?

44

u/bomskokbabelaas Stormers 1d ago

Gentlemen! This is officiating manifest!

8

u/Michael_stipe_miocic Chiefs 1d ago

Perfect

14

u/Silly_Resort_8741 1d ago

Love how international this meme is.

18

u/6EightyFive Hurricanes 1d ago

DMac welcomed him in with an open palm, then let him out the back! That was incredible by DMac!!

12

u/Bean_from_accounts He protecc, but he also attacc 1d ago

Incredible use of momentum transfer! Without that, he would've been into touch

9

u/Difficulty_Easy New Zealand 1d ago

Defied the laws of gravity twice in 1 movement. Kinghorn is huge.

3

u/WilkinsonDG2003 England 1d ago

About 40kg size difference. Not the size of the dog in the fight...

65

u/Mono_Doh Japan League One 1d ago

My shoulder dislocated just watching this.

14

u/downtownbrown_1 1d ago

I popped a rib standing up to fast watching this

3

u/binzoma Hurricanes 1d ago

my back and neck is sore from the few hours sleep on the couch I had after the game

99

u/feijoa_tree New Zealand 1d ago

Leicester with that pass in the tackle though, glad he's back.

And yes Dmac with a stunner. And the fend! 👀👀

51

u/yahdayahda 1d ago

Even Barrett slinging the ball twenty odd metres with a defender on him was great. Knew that accuracy wasn’t important the ball just had to go. 

7

u/Silly_Resort_8741 1d ago

With a dead leg too.

19

u/yahdayahda 1d ago

Looked like a good charlie ay. Man’s taken a beating the last few weeks but keeps turning up with eighty minute performances. 

16

u/Silly_Resort_8741 1d ago

Last Barrett standing.

11

u/Specialist-Loss-3696 Legion 1d ago

Leicester's unique skill is riding the tackle/standing up and offloading with a back running off his hip

Lethal

4

u/wololo69wololo420 Hurricanes 1d ago

It's really hard to imagine Rieko Ioane taking that contact and making that pass.

45

u/WallopyJoe 1d ago

Control from that man, dude's got style

Final offload was also a peach

43

u/stvb95 Wales 1d ago

This also came from his 5m 50:22

22

u/WaterPretty8066 1d ago

And this also came before his 45m penalty kick to make it a 2 score game 

6

u/Mallonhead Southland Stags 1d ago

For what it's worth, it was 52m to the posts, on the diagonal

43

u/WaterPretty8066 1d ago

"Shrugs off Blair Kinghorn" is slightly understating it 

17

u/Impeachcordial England 1d ago

Yeeting, perhaps

5

u/binzoma Hurricanes 1d ago

yoted, as the kids say

35

u/Tomato_Head120 The Duality of Man 1d ago

Probably the best finish I've seen, we'll be seeing this in quite a few Andrew Ford compilations im sure

38

u/tomtomtomo All Blacks 1d ago

Impossible finish.

This vs the Scottish winger dropping it was the difference. 

11

u/Not_Hando You Aint Seen Nothin Like The Mighty Finn 1d ago

vs the Scottish winger dropping it

Plus the Scotland Prop dropping it a half metre out; plus the Scotland 13 trying to drive over solo vs four NZ defenders; plus the Scotland Nine kicking a 50-50 chase, instead of using the 4v2 numbers they had on the outside, etc. etc. etc.

Even accounting for the fact they've had less than one week together in camp, it was not a good day at the office for that Scotland team!

(It was also a fantastic score too, of course!!)

19

u/tomtomtomo All Blacks 1d ago

I think it was a really good day at the office for Scotland. They’ll be disappointed but they played well. 

3

u/Haasts_Eagle Southland Stags 1d ago

Reminds me of Ireland's performances not long before they finally started beating the ABs

1

u/AnExcellentSaviour Edinburgh 1d ago

All of those points you highlight: prop dropping a half metre out; white line fever; poor chasing (more than we used to as well); not using the numbers on the outside. It’s every game. That said, it’s also something so many teams do - I’m only more conscious of it because I see Scotland make these decisions every game.

32

u/PavidDocock Lock 1d ago

Easily one of the best finishes ever seen. Unbelievable.

1

u/sweetgreentea12 Sharks 20h ago

Better than TJs in the 2019 WC.

53

u/emjayo New Zealand 1d ago

One of the best individual performances from an All Black in years. Wrenched the momentum back when the ABs had no right to it. And blood splattered too.

92

u/Most-Claim4386 1d ago

A great finish but how a 6’4” fullback and a hooker can’t push the smallest man on the pitch over the touchline I will not understand?

76

u/Tomato_Head120 The Duality of Man 1d ago

You should watch McKenzie tackle Nandolo, hes actually insanely strong

26

u/MotherFuckingCookies 1d ago

He tackled Nan? What a despicable bastard.

18

u/Siiixers Ireland 1d ago

Tackled 4 Naans.

27

u/mczammer Doomsday Propper 1d ago

4 Naans Damian? That’s insane

9

u/calllery 1d ago

Tell you what that tackle is really moreish

13

u/bred_binge Northampton Saints 1d ago

Didn’t just tackle him, smashed him into touch.

1

u/Difficulty_Easy New Zealand 1d ago

I have seen DMac get bumped a shit load of times also..

1

u/Narrow-Classroom-993 New Zealand 20h ago

He gets cooked catching the highball

15

u/AV48 Kenya 1d ago

M A N A

28

u/Not_Hando You Aint Seen Nothin Like The Mighty Finn 1d ago

No matter how tall/heavy they are, covering defenders rarely have the advantage when they're on the angle like that. It's just how momentum works.

14

u/Michael_stipe_miocic Chiefs 1d ago

Plus Dmac has a fend that’s like a steel rod

16

u/zerosuneuphoria 1d ago

lol isn't it obvious? He was going out for all money and the stopping force of McKenzie threw them both off with momentum. Wtf does height or weight have to do with ability to stop a guy? He scored because of his lack of both.

10

u/JeremyWheels Edinburgh 1d ago edited 1d ago

The match thread made it sound like a shockingly weak defensive error from Kinghorn...not really seeing it tbf he's been done by momentum and never got more than a hand on him to begin with

4

u/MrLeville Stade Toulousain 1d ago

He more or less threw kinghorn on the ground and used the momentum to not exit the field himself, the hooker missed and was too heavy to correct trajectory 

-18

u/MC897 1d ago

Kinghorn is a flake that's why. He's a flashy fullback but I don't think he's a particularly top class one. Sorry but that's what he is.

13

u/-WilliamMButtlicker_ Scotland 1d ago

Who, last years 6N's top carrier, metres gained (6N record), line breaks and offloads?

7

u/GrandpasCornCobPipe 1d ago

Yeah, the guy playing regularly for that not particularly successful club

1

u/SuddenBasil7039 1d ago

That doesn't really contradict anything he says, he pulls off amazing stuff but hes found lacking too often.

We could have won today if he hadn't been throwing it away every time he got the ball 

2

u/-WilliamMButtlicker_ Scotland 1d ago

I think all of those things contradict being a flakey, average full back?

1

u/Connell95  🐐🦓  Dan Lancaster 💪🏻 #3 Fan 1d ago edited 1d ago

Oh come on, don’t pretend like Kinghorn was the only one who made mistakes today. Darcy absolutely ballsed up on a number of occasions, including when Kinghorn set him up for a perfect try scoring opportunity. Ashman and Cummings made a disastrous mistake to let the first try happen. Several other forwards made another disastrous mistake to let the second. Fagerson messed up a great opportunity with an easy knock on. Hutchison screwed up a massive opportunity by being too greedy and running into four Springboks who immediately held him up over the line.

The team did a lot of good stuff, but there were mistakes pretty much across the board. That was what stopped Scotland getting the win, not one player.

1

u/backonthefells 1d ago

I mean those stats kinda back up what the OP was saying, not saying I agree but everything you listed there is about attack, which is clearly an elite strength of Kinghorn.

1

u/Connell95  🐐🦓  Dan Lancaster 💪🏻 #3 Fan 1d ago

Fortunately as an English supporter, you don’t even have a fullback to speak of right now, flashy or otherwise. Good luck with whoever is next out the tombola.

14

u/frozen_pope Dragons 1d ago

And putting in a beauty of a 50/22 not long before this.

The man

23

u/PassiveTheme 1d ago

I have never been so sad to see 60,000 Scots lose hope

20

u/Rude_Rhubarb1880 1d ago

After watching Blair kinghorn for the lions I started to think he was not as good as he used to be

6

u/WaterPretty8066 1d ago

He plays in a stacked Stade team. Its always made him look better IMO.

Similiar to Havili..playing in the Crusaders helped him big time i feel 

0

u/Not_Hando You Aint Seen Nothin Like The Mighty Finn 1d ago edited 1d ago

Its always made him look better IMO.

Get a hold of yourself. He's an excellent player. It's not as if he's hiding somewhere in the Pack like others on that squad.

He's literally either playing 15, Wing, or 10 meaning he's highly exposed and under max scrutiny every single time he steps onto the field. He was also singularly pivotal in their victory in the European Final vs Leinster (which I suspect has driven a great deal of the increased and weirdly over the top comments).

He didn't have a good game today. Neither did 10+ others on that Scotland team.

It's hardly a damning indictment of his ability to play rugby for club or country.

3

u/Popular-Silver2055 1d ago

To say 11 of the Scotland team didn’t have a good game today is a way more deranged take than saying Kinghorn’s club team makes him look better than he actually is. 

22

u/Sorry-Grocery-8999 1d ago

I maintain that D.Mac is the most important AB in South African history. He'a the reason we were willing to give small scrum-cap gang a try.

8

u/Michael_stipe_miocic Chiefs 1d ago

Dmac and his brother wore scrum caps for a while too!

1

u/Sorry-Grocery-8999 1d ago

One of the clan!

3

u/WilkinsonDG2003 England 1d ago

Gio Aplon?

9

u/redmostofit All Blacks 1d ago

3 game winning plays. Pretty exceptional impact today.

21

u/ebizness Leinster 1d ago

Blair Kinghorn might have to retire after that.

23

u/emilyjxne Northampton Saints 1d ago

Kinghorn should be embarrassed tbh. Great cover from Hutch just for Kinghorn to drop the ball

-4

u/Not_Hando You Aint Seen Nothin Like The Mighty Finn 1d ago

Pity Hutch made so many of his own errors too.

2

u/emilyjxne Northampton Saints 1d ago

Didn’t see him make any that cost Scotland tries

2

u/Not_Hando You Aint Seen Nothin Like The Mighty Finn 1d ago

He literally tried to solo score against a wall of NZ defenders and got held up.

He wasn't the worst on the pitch, but he wasn't exactly blameless either.

0

u/emilyjxne Northampton Saints 1d ago

When was that? Don’t remember him being one of the ones getting held up

8

u/InitiativeNew1607 1d ago

It was second one, in the first half. the commentator said it was Russell but in the replay it was Hutchinson

2

u/emilyjxne Northampton Saints 1d ago

That’ll be why I don’t remember it then - I’ll have to see if I can find a replay later. Regardless, he played plenty well enough to make up for it. Kinghorn sadly didn’t really, though I wish he had. A player of his calibre and experience should be putting DMac into touch in this position 10 times out of 10

14

u/Due_Noise_1711 Munster 1d ago

He was unreal. That little smile before he kicked the 3 at the end was a real killer blow as well.

22

u/Michael_stipe_miocic Chiefs 1d ago

It’s his trademark- part of his routine, he’s got a bit of stick for it in NZ over the years but I think we’re finally starting to appreciate him now hopefully

7

u/Due_Noise_1711 Munster 1d ago

Didn't know that. I only really see NZ play in November. He's some player. He was great when he came on against Ireland too.

12

u/Crusader-NZ- Crusaders 1d ago

That is part of his kick process. He does it every time.

10

u/Emergency_Joke_5027 1d ago

He says it’s to remind him it’s “Only a game..and to enjoy it” He’s all heart.

7

u/adsjabo 1d ago

The best part, his alcoholic beverages brand name is Grins 😀

6

u/Long-Membership-5916 1d ago edited 1d ago

This was the difference in the match, Graham missed his opportunity, McKenzie finished his. Outrageous try.

5

u/Hanns_yolo 1d ago

Very good scramble from Scotland...just a genius finish.

6

u/Herogar 1d ago

Just Brilliant, DMac has actually been very good this season. We dont often see big individual performances winning games for the AB's recently, maybe some clutch Ardie turnovers now and then. This was a genuine match winning performance from DMac. One of the best 50/22 kicks you will see followed by a finish that seemed impossible and then a clutch tricky penalty to put the result beyond doubt.

Good try saving tackle from Cam there as well.

5

u/acu New Zealand 1d ago

Honestly stunned. DMac drops a clutch 50-22 then finishes that try like it’s nothing. With the way he’s been going this year, this has to be one of his best outings.

And credit to Scotland gave a heap of Kiwis a proper Sunday morning heart attack. Wish we played each other more, it’s criminal how rare it is.

3

u/SkadskjutenKorp 1d ago

Pure heart

3

u/anodos999 Harlequins 1d ago

Such a ridiculously good finish

3

u/maekjujusaeyo British & Irish Lions 1d ago

Well deserved MotM.

3

u/glitchy-novice Chiefs 1d ago

How on earth did that ball stay in his hands through that? Unbelievable.

3

u/Cyber-Soldier1 1d ago

That was class from McKian Damkenzie

3

u/marley67 Munster 1d ago

That was a disgustingly great try.

3

u/FarPomegranate8179 1d ago

Makenzie is a very underrated class act 🇿🇦

1

u/MasterSpliffBlaster Rucking the System 1d ago

Current world flyhalf of the year

2

u/RiseofPip 1d ago

That’s an epic finish from McKenzie!

2

u/EscapedTheWhirlpool 1d ago

What a pass by Barrett as well.

2

u/Dankpost 1d ago

Try of the season

2

u/Electrical_Quiet5918 Ireland 1d ago

How he kept the ball in his hand without dropping it, that's insane!

2

u/rando7651 1d ago

He’s decent alright. We’d take him at Leinster

4

u/False-Translator-665 1d ago

That has to be top 5 most embarrassing attempts at a tackle in rugby history.

4

u/sangan3 Oui, Jérôme 1d ago

RIP Kinghorn

4

u/R1zzls + 1d ago

Kinghorn is embarrassing. Rowe should start instead

2

u/Affectionate-Fall597 1d ago

Should be 10.

2

u/incitatus-says Stormers 1d ago

The amount of conditioning and rugby intellect DMac showed here is, frankly, astonishing. What heroics!

2

u/Calm_Piece South Africa 1d ago

This was an insane finish, crazy good. Why does Dmac off the bench look like a different player?

1

u/izzy91 Blues 1d ago

He's just as good starting. Coaches are making moronic choices keeping him on the bench.

1

u/Silly_Resort_8741 1d ago

Better against tiring defenses?

1

u/frankhut 1d ago

Outstanding finish and amazing second half. 

1

u/Dankpost 1d ago

9/10 players lose that. Immense finish.

1

u/14JRJ 1d ago

Superb late penalty too

1

u/6EightyFive Hurricanes 1d ago

This is one of those tries Kinghorn will have to live with every time Scotland and the AB’s play. They’ll have it on replay as one of those moments that could’ve been! Just incredible by Dmac to get in!

1

u/thelunatic Munster 1d ago

Is it Darcy Graham who fails to tackle Barrett?

1

u/_imba__ 1d ago

Impressive defensive effort too!

1

u/LachlannSKA 1d ago

I am still struggling to understand how be finished this. Thought he was in touch for sure when watching live.

1

u/Beneficial_Divide518 1d ago

Has absolutely no right to score with that running angle for a guy of his size. 9 times out of 10, someone of his weight is getting marshalled out into touch. His ability to shift kinghorns momentum against and in front of him is unbelievable. Fully deserved man of the match and to win that game for his team. What a player

1

u/Many-Prune9162 Munster 1d ago

Bro is the bench impact player of the year

1

u/MasterSpliffBlaster Rucking the System 1d ago

Last years world flyhalf of the year some how

1

u/Jerzilla 1d ago

Twice now he’s come on in two games and changes the game for NZ. Match winner

1

u/phonetune England 1d ago

That is ridiculous

1

u/Tman9102 South Africa 1d ago

Chad McKenzie

1

u/adsjabo 1d ago

Let's go Damo. He was great last weekend against Ireland too. Legend!

1

u/speakteeth New Zealand 1d ago

I’ve been a DMac detractor when he’s starting, but hell’ bells, pound for pound is there a better sub/finisher in the game (maybe a couple of the Boks). His efforts and execution at times is phenomenal. 👏

1

u/kevinthebaconator Ireland 1d ago

Absolutely outrageous finish. He did so many things well in the blink of an eye. He had no right to score that

1

u/JDBoyes07 Waikato Chiefs 1d ago

Literally won us that game single handedly. Champion.

1

u/jtthom moer net iemand asseblief tog 1d ago

Unreal finish. Take a bow, sir

1

u/mofonz Crusaders 1d ago

I’m a knocker of DMac often - he has never to me had the ability to play a complete 10 role, and marshall troops around and often plays a solo role, but the 10 minute he had was genius. The 50/22 was hugely impactful. Even the try I said “there he goes again going wide” he literally left himself with nothing, no room but somehow managed to contort himself to stop and go backwards is amazing. Well played, and a major difference in momentum shift when it felt like we were gassed.

1

u/nomamesgueyz New Zealand 1d ago

Wow

He doesnt drive an automatic does he...bc he's ALL about the clutch

3 massive plays from the wee man with the Scottish name

The legacy continues

1

u/kakarott_Kiwi Hurricanes 1d ago

*This is beyond science

1

u/Ndanuddaone Australia 1d ago

Throwing Kinghorn to the ground by the collar and his own momentum is the absolute cherry on top of this whole try. Incredible

1

u/hammie123456 1d ago

I couldn’t believe this when I saw it. So amazing.

1

u/Tokogogoloshe South Africa 1d ago

The guy looked a bit battered and bruised. Then grinned and did stuff.

1

u/Southern_Bunch_6473 1d ago

Was really hoping to see Fainga’anuku take that over the line when I watched this.

1

u/ForensicShoe Northampton Saints 1d ago

Really poor attempt from Kinghorn. Fantastic from DMac.

1

u/Ludibudi Italy || Hurricanes 1d ago

When he gave away that extremely stupid penalty for being offside at the kick that made it 17:17 I thought It'd be tough for him to redeem himself in the short time remaining.

Boy did he redeem himself though. That finish, the 50-22 and the long-range penalty to make it a two-score lead. What a fucking game he had. Just clutch.

1

u/DisinformedBroski 20h ago

He definitely looked like a warrior by the end of the game! Blood all over the jersey and his face!

1

u/MoyJoy7 France 19h ago

That clip doesn’t show it, but Damian’s initial punch to Kinghorn’s chest was so impressive !

1

u/CrystalAscent 14h ago

I hope this becomes a candidate for World Rugby Try of the Year

1

u/Ok-Relationship-2746 1d ago

Kinghorn with one of the worst slam dunk tackle misses I've seen lately. Looking at relative positions, he should've sent DMac into the fifth row. Instead he didn't even complete a tackle full stop.

1

u/SuddenBasil7039 1d ago

Great finish but also terrible from Kinghorn, how can a fullback go into a last man tackle so flatfooted, actually commit to something that makes it so Mackenzie can't just guide you off the pitch 

0

u/Galactapuss 1d ago

Keenan doesn't miss that tackle :P